Three Texas Figures Named 2026 Guggenheim Fellows
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has revealed its 2026 Guggenheim Fellows, including three from Texas. Kenneth Tam, an interdisciplinary artist and Assistant Professor at Rice University, aims to develop an experimental performance featuring Houston talent. Margaret Brown, an Austin filmmaker known for "The Yogurt Shop Murders," is also honored with this fellowship. Additionally, Noah Isenberg, the Charles Sapp Centennial Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, joins the list. The foundation, which started in 1925, provides funding between $30,000 and $60,000 for various projects. Out of 5,000 applications, only 223 were chosen. Foundation President Edward Hirsch noted that this group is likely to create groundbreaking work. In 2025, Tam's solo show at the Blaffer Art Museum was canceled after curator Erika Mei Chua Holum was let go.
Key facts
- The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation announced 2026 Guggenheim Fellows.
- Three recipients have Texas ties: Kenneth Tam, Margaret Brown, and Noah Isenberg.
- Fellowships are awarded based on prior career achievement and exceptional promise.
- The program, established in 1925, has awarded nearly $450 million to over 19,000 Fellows.
- From 5,000 applicants, 223 were selected for the 101st cohort.
- Fellows typically receive $30,000 to $60,000 in unrestricted funds for projects.
- Kenneth Tam is an interdisciplinary artist and Assistant Professor of Art at Rice University.
- Margaret Brown is an Austin filmmaker known for "The Yogurt Shop Murders" documentary series.
Entities
Artists
- Kenneth Tam
- Margaret Brown
- Noah Isenberg
- Edward Hirsch
- Erika Mei Chua Holum
- Edgar G. Ulmer
- Billy Wilder
- Marilyn Monroe
- Townes Van Zandt
Institutions
- John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
- Rice University
- University of Texas at Austin
- Ballroom Marfa
- Visual Arts Center at UT
- MIT List Center for Visual Arts
- The Kitchen
- Times Square Arts
- SculptureCenter
- Hammer Museum
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
- Guggenheim Museum
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Dallas Museum of Art
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Blaffer Art Museum
- South by Southwest film festival
- New York University
- Harry Ransom Center
- The Art Newspaper
- Glasstire
- Texas Standard
- Texas Monthly
- Los Angeles Times
Locations
- Houston
- Texas
- Austin
- New York City
- Cambridge
- Massachusetts
- Los Angeles
- Minneapolis
- Dallas
- Switzerland